Foreign relations of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta

The Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM) is a sovereign entity maintaining diplomatic relations with 115 sovereign states (including the Holy See). Additionally, it has observer status or representation at multiple intergovernmental organisations. The Order has non-diplomatic official relations with seven more states: France, Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Canada, United Kingdom and Taiwan. The Order exchanges ambassadors with the European Union and the State of Palestine.

Bilateral relations

Diplomatic relations The Sovereign Military Order of Malta maintains diplomatic relations with 117 United Nations members and the Holy See. It has moreover signed Declarations of Intent with Saint Kitts and Nevis (September 2025), Vanuatu (September 2025)), Palau (January 2026), Eswatini (September 2026) and Tuvalu (September 2026) in preparation for establishing diplomatic relations. #CountryDate—123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687Primul Ambasador al Republicii Moldova pe lângă Ordinul Suveran Militar de Malta – decorat cu o înaltă distincție (foto) .888990919293949596979899100101102103104105106107108109110111112113114115116117

Other countries # Name Diplomatic relations establishedNotes–Ambassador level relations.– Ambassador level relations.

Official relations Name Official relations established Region NotesEuropeEuropeEuropeFrance does not recognise the SMOM as a subject of international law.EuropeNorth AmericaCanada established official relations in June 2008, with its Ambassador to the Holy See accredited to the Order of Malta.EuropeThe Sovereign Military Order of Malta established official relations with the United Kingdom on 9 October 2024. AsiaThe Order of Malta has official relations with Taiwan through the Embassy of the Republic of China to the Holy See in Rome (Italy).

Unofficial relations # Name RegionNotes– Europe Recognises it as a knightly orderThe 10 October 2017 decree of the Chancellor of the Dutch Orders lists the SMOM as one of three "Recognised (knightly) orders" (Erkende (ridderlijke) orden) and authorises its members to wear their decorations in the Netherlands.– Asia Accepts its stamps

Intergovernmental organizations The Order of Malta has observer status at the following organizations: Organization observer sinceNotes United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency United Nations General Assembly International Fund for Agricultural Development United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific United Nations Environment Programme United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees United Nations Industrial Development Organization World Food Programme World Health Organization

The Order of Malta has delegations or representations to the following organizations: Organization participates sinceNotes Council of Europe International Institute for the Unification of Private Law Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization Preparatory Commission Inter-American Development Bank International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property International Committee of Military Medicine International Committee of the Red Cross International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies International Institute of Humanitarian Law International Organization for Migration Latin Union

See also List of diplomatic missions of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta List of diplomatic missions to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta List of permanent observers of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta to the United Nations

Notes

References